Béla Fleck, Throw Down Your Heart, Africa Sessions Part Two

By Lisa Anderson

Many people may not know this, but the roots of banjo music actually go back to Africa. Eclectic American banjo player Béla Fleck traveled to Africa to explore this history and learn from African musicians. The result was the 2008 documentary Throw Down your Heart, and the 2009 album Throw Down Your Heart, Tales From The Acoustic Planet, Africa Sessions. Part two of the album was released early this year.

Some of the music on Throw Down Your Heart is challenging for me. There are a few tracks, especially early on, where there is almost too much going on—”Too many notes,” as Emperor Joseph II said to Mozart. In particular, when there are vocals, a percussion instrument, and more than one stringed instrument playing, it becomes overwhelming. As funny is as this sounds in reviewing a Béla Fleck album, there are also moments when I thought, “This would sound better without the banjo noodling in the background.” At times, the percussion (and even the strings) gives the music a jarringly Asian quality, but that could just be my untrained ear.

As the album progresses however, the music hits its stride. The best songs are the ones that keep it simple, or at least achieve greater harmony than the earlier songs. Songs such as “Furhana” and “Mali Jam” have a loping, easygoing quality. Many of the tunes, including those and “Jesus of Banjul,” are almost picaresque, seeming to unfold a narrative without words. Often, the string-work adds a nostalgic, bluegrass flavor, tying the past and present together without detracting from the African-ness of the music. My favorite song, hands-down, is “Kandijo,” where classical-guitar stylings and ululating vocals evoke the Moorish history of Spain.

Throw Down Your Heart is not my typical musical fare. Being a very word-oriented person, I don’t usually go for instrumental music, or lyrics in a language I can’t understand—and this album has both. Not everyone minds those things, though; if you happen to know any of the languages represented on the album, understanding is not an issue.

I don’t see Throw Down Your Heart as an album to sit and listen to. It makes wonderful driving music, as well as good music to accompany writing or puttering around and doing things. I intend to use it as music for the gym. I can also easily imagine it as the perfect soundtrack for a sufficiently intellectual—or sufficiently hippieish—party.

If you want to explore African-influenced music without the sometimes-overbearing cachet of “World Music,” I would suggest the work of Paul Simon. His 1986 album Graceland was a collaboration with various South African musicians, and featured musical styles ranging from mambazo to zydeco. The follow up, The Rhythm of the Saints, draws its inspiration from Brazil, but reflects that country’s heavy African influence. If you prefer your fusion projects to be helmed by an actual African, and don’t mind if the songs have an edge, I would recommend K’naan. The Somalian-born rapper followed up his 2005 debut, The Dusty Foot Philosopher, with last year’s Troubadour, both of which combine infectious beats with harsh truths and a hopeful outlook.

Throw Down Your Heart has grown on me with several repeated listenings—even the more complex songs—and makes me want to explore more of Fleck’s music. No doubt he will be entertaining us with his versatility and talent for years to come. I’m also sure that similar treats are in store for music fans, as Western musicians explore their roots and technology helps give non-Western musicians a place on the global stage. We may not all speak the same tongue, but music is the universal language of the soul.

Throw Down Your Heart, Africa Sessions Part Two was released on February 2. Béla Fleck will be touring Australia through the month of April. For more details, check out his Official Website. For more on the documentary, Throw Down Your Heart, please check out the film site.